52 Weeks of Family: Week 27

Mila:

I've been sorting through a random selection of photos of you during your time Before Family.  I am so very thankful for the people in the hospital nursery that loved you well for two years, then at the baby orphanage and finally the institution. They made sure you were safe, cared for and exposed to some life outside the walls of the dorm, and they ALL loved Jesus. We now have photos of you as young as 19 months old! As well as spattering of photos of having adventures with your roommates and Sisters throughout your toddler- and childhood. I don't have dates or the stories behind them but we have pieces of your puzzle that many adoption families do not have and for that I am thankful.  As I put together your Shutterfly book, I hope these photos are a safe place for you to revisit your past and the people who loved you there. 

She is the cutie patotie on the right. 

Second or third birthday at the Baby Orphanage

Two of your favorite people at the institution 

You are becoming more engaging with your brother, even pulling him into you and being playful. Your go-to game right now is to tickling him and attempting to cradle him like a baby "Mommy!  Es Baby Isaac!" ...then Isaac pretends to cry and I have to scoop him up and rock him like a 57 pound infant.  It's fun for everyone! *wink*  Your relationship with him is a process and we've learned that Acts of Service is definitely how you show your love for your brother; you'll refuse to say sorry to him, but you'll willingly pick up his toys in repentance. I can see your heart's attitude through it all, and I suppose that is the most important part.

Riding the light rail train together.

Congrats, honey!  You told me you were hungry for the very first time!  We were out doing errands and several hours past lunch (I didn't plan well that day, sorry). It was quiet in the car and all of a sudden you yell HUNGER! from the backseat. I nearly drove off the road!  Mila, are you hungry? Do you want to eat?  Then all peaceful & demur-like you responded with a why yes, mother dearest, how ever did you know: Yes, Mommy *insert big smile*   I could tell that the word was uncomfortable for you and you needed to try it on for size. And the way you devoured TWO cheeseburgers made me wonder how long you had sat in the back pulling the word from your verbal flash cards, but you did it.  

Also...you can't say FLAMINGO!  It comes out TELE-FINGER every time!  *hahaha*

Isaac:

You have grown ANOTHER inch! I can see the inch this time as you stand head & shoulders over the kitchen counter that used to tower of you as I cooked. You've recently learned to unload the dishwasher and think this is the BEST fun (I promise not to tell you otherwise). I didn't realize this new skill had transferred over to putting away shopping items, until I couldn't find the qtips I had asked you to put in my bathroom (expecting them to be in the sink or thrown in the closet with my shoes)...until I found them opened and put away nicely in the qtip drawer.  ?!?!  

We've been working on the art of sibling compromise. What does one do when your sister doesn't want to do what you want to do?? Melting down is not an option, so let's build some skills.  For the most part, I've been letting the two of you figure it out and you've actually been doing a pretty good job of working it through.  Sometimes when you want to listen to Aladdin in the car and Mila wants to listen to Frozen she'll yell "Later Aladdin!!", but you've learned that that sometimes works. "Momma? Numba 1 Woah-zen? Numba 2 Ah-waah-din?" (Hey Mom! If we listen to Frozen, first can we listen to Aladdin next?)  Yup, we can do that.  Other times, you have anticipated the compromise and come up with your own plan: "Dista? Wy-on King or Mouse CooKEE. Ok?" (Sister, do you want to watch Lion King or If You Give A Mouse a Cookie? I've already determined these are your only two choices because that's what I want to watch, so pick one.)  That actually works too. I am proud of you both working through your wants & needs in a peaceful manner. A lot of adults can't do that!

Me:
James 1:27 was one of the first scriptures that I ever intentionally memorized. I was 16 years old and wanted to KNOW this verse--what God was saying and why.  Of course, I had no idea what the Lord had planned for me!  Fast forward twenty-some-odd years and I just came across this interpretation of my beloved scripture:

"One of the purest and most un-defiled demonstrations of the Gospel is to move towards hard places & broken people, not away from them. And in doing so, our world view is consistently reoriented to the God's heart for us, unaffected by the affairs of the world"


Oohhh.  Isn't that good?!